Adjustable firmness device and relaxation furniture that comprises said device

ABSTRACT

An adjustable force device for relaxation furniture that comprises a multitude of resilient elements and at least one rigid base element on which the resilient elements rest, in such a way that the resilient elements are intended to compress when receiving pressure and return to their original shape when this pressure is removed, in which at least some of the resilient elements comprise:
         a head component on the upper part of the resilient element;   a means for transmitting tension applied to the head component,
 
the means for transmitting tension to an actuating device of the means for transmitting tension being connected in such a way that the action of the actuating device causes the connected resilient element or elements to compress via the respective means for transmitting tension.

The present invention relates to an adjustable firmness device that can regulate its firmness by means of an external actuating control device for example, and to a piece of relaxation furniture that comprises said device.

Relaxation furniture refers to those items of furniture whose functions include that of relaxation. Examples of relaxation furniture are mattresses, settees, chairs, armchairs, sofas, pillows and cushions, etc. While the present invention applies especially to mattresses, chairs, armchairs and sofas, this invention is not necessarily limited to said applications.

Adjustable firmness devices are known that enable the user to set the firmness of the relaxation element by means of a mechanism that enables the firmness to be adapted to each user and at any time.

The adjustable firmness devices that currently exist on the market function via various systems, such as: the use of air chambers as an intermediate layer in the mattress or as an insert in one of the foam layers; the use of strings in the upper part of the spring block; or the use of systems that vary the working height of the resilient elements from the bottom of these systems to change the initial length of the resilient elements.

More specifically, the European Patent ES2414656 document discloses a furniture device that comprises a system for adjusting firmness by separating two plates adjacent to a group of resilient elements. It has a deformation element that moves one of the plates vertically to increase or decrease the deformation of the resilient elements from the part under them. One problem presented by the invention ES2414656 lies in the actuation zone, since the plate acts on the whole resilient group, while another problem of ES2414656 is the inability to be able to maintain the height of the resilient element throughout the entire trajectory of the plate.

The Patent PCT WO2014117995 document discloses a mattress with adjustable firmness and height. The firmness is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the tension created on some non-resilient strings located in the upper part of the spring block, which are parallel to the relaxation surface, while the height is adjusted by cams that push the resilient element along the lower part. One problem presented by said invention is the low comfort level provided since the firmness is adjusted by the tension of some strings transverse to the mattress, resulting in the body of the person sleeping resting on strings rather than on the springs.

The Patent PCT WO2005053466 document discloses a sprung mattress with adjustable firmness that uses one or several air chambers positioned under the springs. By inflating or deflating these airtight chambers the initial length of the spring can be modified by compressing it from its lower surface. One main problem presented by this invention is the difficulty in keeping the height of the upper layer of the springs constant when the air chamber is inflated or deflated.

One objective of the present invention is to disclose an adjustable firmness device for relaxation furniture that does not present the aforementioned disadvantages.

The present invention therefore discloses an adjustable firmness device that uses head components to compress one or several resilient elements along the upper part that absorb the right amount of energy of each element so that the actuation zone of this device has the required force.

More specifically, the present invention discloses a device capable of adjusting the firmness by varying or absorbing the resilient force exerted by one or several of the resilient members on one or several layers of the relaxation furniture. According to the present invention, the firmness is adjusted by decreasing/increasing the density of the active resilient elements per area of relaxation surface, thus reducing/increasing the pressure exerted by the resilient members against the user. To reduce the density of resilient elements per unit of surface—or working area if only a single resilient element is involved-, it reduces the total resilient constant of the set of resilient elements and, therefore, that of the relaxation furniture. This is done by using, on each resilient element the user wishes to activate/deactivate, a head component located on the upper part of each resilient element and a means for transmitting a tensile force to the head component to compress the resilient element, thus absorbing part of the resilient energy by reducing the summation of the resilient constant of the set.

The present invention discloses variable firmness devices and relaxation furniture that comprises such devices.

More specifically, the present invention discloses an adjustable firmness device that comprises a relaxation surface, a multitude of resilient elements situated under the relaxation surface, and at least one rigid base element on which the resilient elements rest, in such a way that the resilient elements are intended to compress when receiving pressure from the relaxation surface, and return to their original shape when this pressure is removed, in which at least some of the resilient elements comprise:

-   -   a head component on the upper part of the resilient element;     -   a means for transmitting tension applied to the head component,

the means for transmitting tension to an actuating device of the means for transmitting tension being connected in such a way that the action of the actuating device causes the connected resilient element or elements to compress via the respective means for transmitting tension.

The resilient element or elements are compressed via a head component on the upper part and a rigid element in the base, in such a way that a string is preferably passed along the rigid element, whose end is attached to the head component so that it can exert a tensile force on the string and thus compress the resilient element or elements. Since they are resilient, the elements return to their original shape once the compressive force exerted on them has stopped.

The means used to transmit the tension from the actuator to the resilient element can preferably be any flexible element that only transmits a tensile force and never a compressive force. More preferably, the means for transmitting tension is a string, a thread or a cable.

The means used to drive the strings could be an electrical linear or rotational actuator, or it could be done manually using a hand crank system. The actuating device preferably has means for regulating its action so that compressions of varying magnitude can be produced. Even more preferably, the actuating device is an electrical, mechanical or hydraulic linear actuator, or an electrical, mechanical or hydraulic rotational actuator. In the present invention, a hydraulic actuator is considered to be an actuator that uses a pressurised fluid or gas to transmit a force or torque, a definition normally used in the technical field in which the invention falls.

The actuating device can be operated preferably using a control device attached by cable, by a radiofrequency device, by an RFID device, via a Bluetooth receiver and computer application; a mobile network or Wi-Fi device; by an electronic or computerised artificial intelligence system, or manually using a system of hand cranks and/or cams actuated by human force.

The actuating device is preferably fixed to the rigid base element. It can be located, for example, on the rigid base, in the lower part or even inside the rigid base element.

The aforementioned resilient elements are preferably springs or a set of springs, or a foam block or set of foam blocks.

The rigid base element could preferably comprise a board or combination of boards, a support structure or combination of support structures. It could preferably be composed of one or several materials such as wood, metal, polymers or resin-bonded fibres, for example.

The adjustable firmness device that is the subject of the present invention is intended to be incorporated in any furniture designed for relaxation/comfort, with one or several devices potentially being included in the same piece of furniture. The device applies especially for use in mattresses, chairs, armchairs, sofas and easy chairs, although the invention is not necessarily limited to said application. The adjustable firmness device that is the subject of the present invention can be inserted into one of the layers of the relaxation furniture.

Lastly, the furniture that is the subject of the present invention has an adjustable firmness device which, by means of a flexible media for transmitting tension that is attached to a head component, can absorb part of the resilient potential energy of the resilient element or elements on which a force is to be exerted to compress said elements, in order to adjust the pressure exerted by the resilient element or elements on the product's user.

More specifically, the present invention discloses a piece of relaxation furniture that comprises an adjustable force device to compress some resilient elements, in such a way that they compress when receiving a pressure force from the relaxation surface, and return to their original shape when this pressure is removed.

To provide a better understanding, some drawings are attached of various embodiments of the adjustable firmness device that is the subject of the present invention, which serve as explanatory but non-limiting examples.

FIG. 1 shows an illustration of a front elevation view of a first embodiment of an adjustable firmness device in a neutral position, in the maximum mattress firmness configuration.

FIG. 2 shows a front elevation view of the adjustable firmness device of the previous figure in a contracted position, the minimum mattress firmness configuration.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a second embodiment of an adjustable firmness device controlled by a linear actuator, in which some of its internal components can be seen.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of a third embodiment of an adjustable firmness device controlled by a rotational actuator.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the adjustable firmness device of the previous figure, in the neutral position.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the adjustable firmness device of the previous figure, in a contracted position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of an adjustable firmness device with a foam block as a resilient element.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of an adjustable firmness device with a profiled foam block as a resilient element.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of an adjustable firmness device with a set of foam blocks as resilient elements.

FIG. 1 shows a set of resilient elements 1, 11 positioned on a rigid board 4. A linear actuator 3 is positioned on the board 4. Some resilient elements 11 have head components 2. As seen in the figure, the forces F are transmitted from the actuator, passing along the rigid base 4. The means for transmitting the forces F (threads or cords 6, for example) are connected to a coupling part 8 of the means of transmission to the actuator in order to drive said transmission means. When it passes along the rigid board 4, the force F vector changes direction in accordance with a component perpendicular to the resilient elements. The force F ends up being applied on the head components located on the upper surface of the affected resilient elements 11 to exert pressure that causes these resilient elements 11 to compress. Although the action of the force F has been represented, FIG. 1 shows an example of the neutral position of the resilient elements, where no forces F are generated. In the neutral position, the device presents maximum firmness, which is transmitted to the relaxation surface of the relaxation furniture on which the device is installed (neither the relaxation surface nor the furniture are represented in the figures).

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the same device in FIG. 1, with the resilient elements 11 compressed, thus producing the device's minimum firmness.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the resilient elements are pockets made of materials with resilient properties.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of an adjustable firmness device which has a rigid base in the form of structure 5, with a linear actuator 3 inside said structure 5 and threads 6 tasked with compressing the resilient elements 11 via the head components 2 situated on the upper part of the resilient elements 11. In the example shown, the resilient elements 11 comprise pocketed springs 12.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of an adjustable firmness device which is similar to the previous figure, the difference being in the actuation method, since the threads 6 are tightened using a rotational actuator 7, which converts its driving torque into a tensile force on the thread or threads. The remaining elements are similar to the previous embodiments and identified using the same numbering.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a fourth embodiment of an adjustable firmness device similar to the previous ones, with a rigid base in the form of structure 5 and with some resilient elements 1, 11 in the form of pocketed springs. In this embodiment, some resilient elements 11 can be compressed as required, while other resilient elements 1 cannot. FIG. 5 shows the neutral position where all of the resilient elements 1, 11 are at the same height since there is no tension in the cords or threads. This situation represents the device's maximum firmness. FIG. 6 shows the state of maximum tension in the cords or threads, where the selected resilient elements 11 are contracted due to the force exerted by the actuating device. This situation causes the density of resilient elements per surface area to be reduced. This situation therefore represents the device's minimum firmness. Between the neutral position (FIG. 5) and that of maximum tension (FIG. 6), there are an infinite number of compression points for the resilient elements, which implies an infinite range of different levels of firmness. For this, the force exerted by the actuating device must be adjustable.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 respectively show three adjustable firmness devices with a rigid base in the form of structure 5 and some resilient elements 1, 11 made of foam. FIG. 7 shows a single foam block 11. However, the single foam block has a multitude of head components 2 that can be actuated via an actuating device (not shown in the figure). FIG. 8 shows various elongated profiled foam blocks, in which some blocks are resilient elements 1 that cannot be actuated, while other resilient elements 11 are foam block elements that can be actuated. The foam blocks that can be actuated have a multitude of head components 2 for receiving the compression force. Lastly, FIG. 9 shows a set of individual foam blocks in which each foam block is a resilient element. Likewise, the device has resilient elements 11 that may or may not be actuated.

The devices shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 can be situated inside a piece of relaxation furniture (not shown) as part of the device that provides firmness to a resting surface. For example, the devices shown may be situated immediately under the resting surface (with the upper part of the resilient elements in contact with the resting surface), or they may comprise one of various comfort layers in the piece of furniture. The resilient elements of the device that is the subject of the present invention may generally be available as resilient elements of relaxation furniture of the type already known.

The characteristics shown in each of the different embodiments can be applied to other embodiments, and combined with one another. The base used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may therefore be applied to the other embodiments by fixing, for example, the actuating devices to the lower part of the board 4. The base will generally be fixed, for example, by fastening it to the rest of the piece of relaxation furniture. The type of resilient elements can likewise be interchanged. As an example, resilient elements can be used in the form of different-sized foam blocks, single foam blocks, springs, pocketed springs, hollow elements made of resilient material, chambers and sections made of synthetic material, etc.

While the invention has been presented and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it is understood that these are non-limiting examples of the invention, for which there might be many variable details, constructive or otherwise, that might become evident to experts in the field once they have interpreted the subject matter disclosed in the present description, claims and drawings. All variations and equivalents shall thus be included within the scope of the present invention if they can be considered to fall within the broadest scope of the following claims. 

1. An adjustable force device for relaxation furniture comprising: a plurality of elastic bodies and at least one rigid plate on which the plurality of elastic bodies rest, wherein the plurality of elastic bodies are configured to be compressed when receiving pressure, and return to their original shape when the pressure is removed, wherein at least some of the plurality of elastic bodies comprise: a head component on an upper part thereof; a link configured to apply tension to the head component, and wherein each link is connected to an actuator such that an action of the actuator causes the at least some of the plurality of elastic bodies to be compressed via the respective links, thereby a neutral position represents the maximum firmness of the device, whereas when the at least some of the plurality of elastic bodies are compressed by the actuator, the firmness of the device is reduced due to a reduction in the number of the elastic bodies in surface area.
 2. The adjustable force device for relaxation furniture according to claim 1, wherein the link is a string, a thread or a cable.
 3. The adjustable force device for relaxation furniture according to claim 1, wherein each elastic body comprises a spring, springs or a set of springs, or a foam block or set of foam blocks.
 4. The adjustable force device for relaxation furniture according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to produce compressions in varying magnitude.
 5. The adjustable force device for relaxation furniture according to claim 1, wherein the rigid plate comprises a board or combination of boards, a support structure or combination of support structures.
 6. The adjustable force device for relaxation furniture according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electrical, mechanical or hydraulic linear actuator, or an electrical, mechanical or hydraulic rotational actuator.
 7. The adjustable force device for relaxation furniture according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is operated using a controller communicated by cable, by a radiofrequency device, by an RFID device, via a Bluetooth receiver and computer application; a mobile network or Wi-Fi device; by an electronic or computerized artificial intelligence system, or manually using a system of hand cranks and/or cams actuated by human force.
 8. The adjustable force device for relaxation furniture according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is fixed to the rigid plate.
 9. A relaxation furniture comprising the adjustable force device according to claim
 1. 10. The relaxation furniture according to claim 9, comprising a relaxation surface, wherein the plurality of elastic bodies are positioned in such a way that the plurality of elastic bodies are compressed when receiving the pressure from said surface, and return to their original shape when the pressure is removed.
 11. The relaxation furniture according to claim 9, wherein the relaxation furniture is a mattress, chair, armchair or sofa. 